Exodus 5

1 And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.

Afterward Moses and Aaron came, and said to Pharaoh, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’”

2 And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.

Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should listen to his voice to let Israel go? I don’t know the LORD, and moreover I will not let Israel go.”

3 And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days’ journey into the desert, and sacrifice to the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.

They said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the LORD, our God, lest he fall on us with pestilence, or with the sword.”

4 And the king of Egypt said to them, Why do ye, Moses and Aaron, loose the people from their works? go to your burdens.

The king of Egypt said to them, “Why do you, Moses and Aaron, take the people from their work? Get back to your burdens!”

5 And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.

Pharaoh said, “Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens.”

6 And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,

The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying,

7 Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as before: let them go and gather straw for themselves.

“You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick, as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.

8 And the number of the bricks, which they made before, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish any of it: for they are idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.

You shall require from them the number of the bricks which they made before. You shall not diminish anything of it, for they are idle. Therefore they cry, saying, ‘Let’s go and sacrifice to our God.’

9 Let more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour in it; and let them not regard vain words.

Let heavier work be laid on the men, that they may labour in it. Don’t let them pay any attention to lying words.”

10 And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.

The taskmasters of the people went out with their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I will not give you straw.

11 Go ye, get for yourselves straw where ye can find it: yet not any of your work shall be diminished.

Go yourselves, get straw where you can find it, for nothing of your work shall be diminished.’”

12 So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw.

So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.

13 And the taskmasters hastened them, saying, Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw.

The taskmasters were urgent saying, “Fulfil your work quota daily, as when there was straw!”

14 And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Why have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and to day, as before?

The officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and were asked, “Why haven’t you fulfilled your quota both yesterday and today, in making brick as before?”

15 Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, Why dealest thou thus with thy servants?

Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you deal this way with your servants?

16 There is no straw given to thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thy own people.

No straw is given to your servants, and they tell us, ‘Make brick!’ and behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people.”

17 But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.

But Pharaoh said, “You are idle! You are idle! Therefore you say, ‘Let’s go and sacrifice to the LORD.’

18 Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the number of bricks.

Go therefore now, and work; for no straw shall be given to you; yet you shall deliver the same number of bricks!”

19 And the officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in trouble, after it was said, Ye shall not diminish the number of your bricks of your daily task.

The officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in trouble when it was said, “You shall not diminish anything from your daily quota of bricks!”

20 And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh:

They met Moses and Aaron, who stood along the way, as they came out from Pharaoh.

21 And they said to them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made us odious in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hands to slay us.

They said to them, “May the LORD look at you and judge, because you have made us a stench to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us!”

22 And Moses returned to the LORD, and said, Lord, why hast thou so oppressed this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?

Moses returned to the LORD, and said, “Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Why is it that you have sent me?

23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.

For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people. You have not rescued your people at all!”